Not to be outdone by its little brother, Hyundai introduced its small sport sedan, the Genesis G70 which, unlike the Kia Stinger on which it is based, is a four-door sedan, not a hatchback. The G70 completes the Genesis sedan lineup, and attention will now shift to SUVs and alternative powertrains. Hyundai’s luxury division plans to have six vehicles in its stable by 2021.

The G70 looks very different than the Kia Stinger, having a much more chiseled appearance with twin LED daytime running lights per side that are a foreshadowing of future Genesis models’ quad headlamps. They adhere to the Genesis style book, but create a more muscular, younger aesthetic. This style continues inside where the horizontal instrument panel — shared with the Kia Stinger — has the same layout, but a much more substantial look. It is supplemented by quilted leather door panels and seat inserts, aluminum door handles, Nappa leather trim, and metal speaker grilles. Plus, it goes one better with the smart posture control system first seen on the G90 that takes information input about the driver’s body, and automatically adjusts the seat, steering wheel, outside mirrors and head-up display to their optimal position.

The powertrain is the same, bookended by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four on the low end, and a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 on the upper end G70 Sport. The information supplied from the car’s debut in Korea — in Korean spec. — is spotty at best, though it is a near certainty that the G70 will offer the same choice of rear- and all-wheel drive drivetrains, and the same eight-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the G70 offers the same multiple drive modes, electric power steering, and continuously adjustable dampers as the Kia.

Final specifications for the North American G70 will not be available until early 2018 when it is expected that pricing also will be announced. The G70 is expected to be on sale late in the first quarter of 2018. — CAS